Palliative care nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses who complete specialized course work at the Master’s or Doctoral degree level.

Palliative nurse practitioners treat patients with life threatening illnesses. They assess patient needs and diagnose health challenges. Palliative care nurse practitioners are skilled clinicians who are knowledgeable about a wide range of medical conditions. They provide emotional support to patients and family members facing devastating diagnoses.

Palliative care nurse practitioners provide primary care services to patients who have terminal diagnoses. They assess, and treat symptoms to promoting maximum level of wellness and independence for patients with terminal illnesses.

They prescribe medications within the scope of practice for their jurisdiction. While palliative nurse practitioners may use their expertise to care for patients of all ages, they most commonly treat older adults and geriatric patients.

Medical illnesses that are commonly encountered by palliative care nurse practitioners include: cancer, advanced heart disease, neurological disorders and dementia. Palliative care nurse practitioners also encounter patients suffering from advanced liver, kidney, respiratory illnesses and other serious injuries/illnesses on a regular basis.

Palliative nurse practitioners develop treatment plans to relieve pain, nausea, and difficulty breathing. They treat people with seizures and serious wounds. Palliative care nurse practitioners arrange for comfort measures such as palliative radiation and palliative chemotherapy which are used to reduce pain and distress of patients with cancer. They employ multifaceted treatment plans which include mind, body, and spiritual interventions.

Palliative care nurse practitioners order referrals for medical services, treatments, and diagnostic tests as appropriate. They prescribe diets, exercises, and therapies for patients suffering from serious illnesses. Medication prescribing capacities are consistent with North Carolina state rules and the nurse practitioner/s work under a collaborative physician agreement.